43 44 45. Hezekiah the Lord was with him c. and he rebelled against the king of Assyria 2 Kings 18. 7. When king Nebuchadnezzar had commanded the worshiping of an Image Shadrach Meshach and Abednego refused to obey c. and said Be it known unto thee O King that we will not serve thy gods nor worship the Image c. Dan. 3. 15 16 17 18. When Darius had established a decree that none should ask any petition of any God or man for thirty days Daniel went into his house after his wonted manner and prayed three times a day Dan. 6. 7 8 9 10. When the Apostles were forbid to preach in the name of Christ they answered c. Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God judg you Act. 41. 18 19 20. Then the council charged them with preaching contrary to their commands c. Peter c. said We ought to obey God rather than men Act. 5. 27 28 29. Moses was hid by his parents c. and they feared not the kings edict c. He feared not the wrath of the king Heb. 11. 23 27. 2dly What they ought to do or wherein they should acknowledg and obey them Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses and God smote Miriam with a leprosie Numb 12. 1 9 10 11. The Lord destroyed Korah and his company for their rebellion against Moses c. Numb 16. 1 c. God threatned the Jews for revolting from the king of Babylon and breaking their oath and covenant with him Ezek. 17 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20. Though there was no tribute due from Christ yet he said to Peter Lest we should offend them go thou c. give unto them for me and thee Mat. 17. 24 25 26 27. Render therefore unto Cesar the things which are Cesars Mat. 22. 21. Let every soul be subject to the higher power c. Whosoever therefore resisteth the powers resisteth the ordinance of God c. shall receive to themselves damnation c. wilt thou then not be afraid of the powers do that which is good c. Ye must needs be subject not only for wrath but also for conscience sake c. For this cause pay you tribute c. render therefore to all their dues tribute to whom tribute is due custom to whom custom fear to whom fear honour to whom honour Rom. 13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers to obey magistrates c. Tit. 3. 1. Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the king as supream or unto governours as unto them who are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers c. For so is the will of God that with well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men 1 Pet. 2. 13 14 15. 3dly Give them due honour and respect not contemn their persons or speak evil of them Thou shalt not revile the Gods or Judges nor curse the ruler of thy people Exod. 22. 28. David said to Saul My Lord the King and when Saul looked behind him David stooped with his face to the earth and bowed himself c. He said I will not put forth my hand against the Lords anointed 1 Sam. 24. 8 10. Nathan the prophet when he was come in before the king he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground c. and said My Lord O king c. 1 Kings 1. 23 24. Is it fit to say to a king Thou art wicked to princes Ye are ungodly Job 34. 18. The kings wroth is as the roaring of a Lion c. Prov. 19. 12. The fear of a king is as the roaring of a Lion whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul Prov. 20. 2. Put not forth thy self in the presence of a king c. Prov. 25. 6 7. Where the word of a king is there is power and who may say unto him What doest thou Eccles. 8. 4. Curse not the king no not in thy thoughts Eccles. 10. 20. Daniel said to Darius the king O king live for ever Dan. 6. 21. When the Apostle had spoken sharply unto the High-priest and some who stood by had said Revilest thou Gods High-priest Then said Paul I wist not brethren that he was the High-priest for it is written Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of my people Act. 23. 2 3 4 5. Paul said I think my self happy king Agrippa because I shall answer for my self this day before thee c. Festus said c. Paul thou art beside thy self much learning doth make thee mad But he said I am not mad most noble Festus but speak forth the words of truth and soberness c. Act. 26. 1 2 3 24 25. ch 24. 10. Render therefore to all their dues c. fear to whom fear honour to whom honour Rom. 13. 7. Honour the king 1 Pet. 2. 17. But chiefly them who walk in the lust of uncleanness and despise government c. or dominion c. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignities whereas Angels who are greater in power and might bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord 2 Pet. 2. 10 11. Jude vers 8 9. 4thly To pray for them Exhort therefore that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men for kings and for all who are in authority or eminent place that we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all godliness and honesty For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour 1 Tim. 2. 1 2 3. 5thly To endeavour to get good Magistrates When Adonijah exalted himself saying I will be king and preparation was made for it Then Bathsheba the Queen and Nathan the prophet made application to David to set up Solomon to be king and accordingly prevailed 1 Kings 1. 6thly To be content with such Magistrates which God hath set over us although they be not such as they should be When Samuel was old he made his sons Judges over Israel c. and his sons walked not in his ways but turned aside after lucre and took bribes and perverted judgment Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel c. and said unto him Behold thou art old and thy sons walk not in thy ways Now make us a king to judg us like all the nations c. This greatly displeased God and he said to Samuel They have not rejected thee but they have rejected me that I should not reign over them c. The people said Nay but there shall be a king over us 1 Sam. 8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 19 20. Samuel afterwards tells them their wickedness was great in the sight of the Lord in asking a king Which sin the people acknowledged when God had sent thunder and rain in harvest
c come out from among them and touch no unclean thing c. 2 Cor. 6. 14 15 16 17 18. When Paul had written to the Galatians about some who troubled them and would pervert the Gospel of Christ c. had preached the circumcision c. he said to them Ye did run well who did hinder you that that ye should not obey the truth this perswasion cometh not from him who calleth you a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump I have confidence in you through the Lord that you will be none otherwise minded but he who troubleth you shall bear his judgment whosoever he be c. I would they were even cut off who trouble you for brethren ye have been called to liberty Gal. 1. 6 7 8. Gal. 5. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. If any man be overtaken in a fault ye who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness considering thy self lest thou also be tempted Gal. 6. 1. Have no fellwoship with unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them for it is a shame even to speak of such things c. Ephes. 5. 11 12. Now we exhort or beseech you brethren warn them who are unruly 1 Thess. 5. 14. Now we command you brethren in the name of our Lord Jesus that ye withdraw your selves from every brother who walketh disorderly and not after the traditions which he received of us for your selves know how ye ought to follow us c. If any man obey not our word by this Epistle note or signifie that man and have no company with him that he may be ashamed yet count him not as an enemy but admonish him as a brother 2 Thess. 3. 6 7 14 15. Holding faith and a good conscience which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwrack of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander whom I have delivered unto Satan that they learn not to blaspheme 1 Tim. 1. 19 20. Rebuke not an Elder but intreat him as a father and the younger men as brethren the elder women as mothers the younger as sisters with all purity c. Against an Elder receive not an accusation but before or under two or three witnesses them who sin rebuke before all that others also may fear 1 Tim. 5. 1 2 19 20. Men of corrupt minds c. from such withdraw thy self 1 Tim. 6. 5. 2 Tim. 3. 5. A man who is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject knowing that he who is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself Tit. 3. 10 11. Follow peace with all men and holiness c. looking diligently lest any man fail or fall from the grace of God lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled lest there be any fornicator or profane person as Esau who for one morsel c. Heb. 12. 14 15 16. I know thy works c. and how thou canst not bear them who are evil and thou hast tryed them who say they are Apostles and are not and thou hast found them lyars c. The Church in Pergamus c. I have a few things against thee because thou hast there them who hold the doctrine of Balaam c. So also hast thou them who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which thing I hate c. The Church of Thyatira c. I have a few things against thee because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel who calleth her self a prophetess to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols c. All the Churches shall know that I am he who searcheth the heart c. Revel 2. 2 14 15 20 23. See Rebuke and Reproof Chap. 17. CHAP. XXVIII Of Hypocrites and Hypocrisie The spirits and practises of such who are very formal and earnest in the external part of worship and profession and in a shew for God yet high in their opposition of Christ the truth of the Gospel and power of Godliness in others THE hour cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the father in spirit and in truth for the father seeketh such to worship him God is a spirit and they who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth John 4. 23 24. They are not all Israel who are of Israel neither because they are the seed of Abraham are all children c. Rom. 9. 6 7. Abel offered unto God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain Cain was therefore angry and slew his brother Gen. 4. 3 4 5 6 7 8. Heb. 11. 4. Absolom pretended to justice and to pay a vow which he had vowed to the Lord in Hebron but he purposed to steal away the hearts of the people and to rebel against the king and advance himself into the throne 2 Sam. 15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Ahaziah the king when rebuked by Elijah for departing from God and sending to an idol gives order to his soldiers to fetch Elijah and though one company and another were consumed with fire yet he sent again 2 Kings 1. 3 4 8 9 10 11 12 13. Jehu met Jehonadab and said unto him Is thine heart right as my heart c and he said Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord c. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam c. 2 Kings 10. 15 16 25 26 27 29 31. What is the hope of the hypocrite c will he delight himself in the Almighty will he always call upon God Job 27. 8 10. The hypocrites in heart c. they cry not when he bindeth them Job 36. 13. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak Psal. 12. 2. When he slew them then they sought him early and they returned and enquired early after God and they remembred that God was their rock and the high God their redeemer nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth and they lyed unto him with their tongue for their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his covenant Psal. 78 34 35 36 37. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes Prov. 12. 15. There is a generation who are pure in their own eyes and yet is not washed from their filthiness Prov. 30. 12. This people draw near to me with their mouth and with their lips they honour me but have removed their heart far from me and their fear towards me is taught by the precept of men Isa. 29. 13. chap. 48. 1 2. Shew my people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sins yet they seek me daly and delight to know my ways as a nation who did righteousness and forsook not the ordinances of their God they ask of me the ordinances of justice they take delight in approaching to God Wherefore
have we fasted say they and thou seest it not have we afflicted our soul and thou takest no knowledg Behold in the day of your fast you find pleasures and exact all your labours c. ye fast for strife c. Isa. 58. 1. 2 3 4. I have spread out my hands all the day long to a rebellious people c. who provoke me to anger continually c. who say Stand by thy self come not near to me for I am holier than thou these are a smoke in my nose Isa. 65. 2 3 4 5. Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart but feignedly Jer. 3. 10. Thus saith the Lord c. Amend your ways c. trust ye not in lying words saying The temple of the Lord the temple of the Lord c. Behold ye trust in lying words which cannot profit Will ye steal murder c. and come and stand before me in this house which is called by my name c Jer. 7. 3 4 8 9 10. Thou art near in their mouth and far from their reins Jer. 12. 2. Judah said Pray for us to the Lord c. that the Lord thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk and the thing that we may do c. We will obey the voice of the Lord c. But Jeremy afterwards said O ye remnant of Judah c. Ye dissembled in your hearts or have used deceit against your souls when ye sent me unto the Lord your God saying Pray for us c. We will do c. ye have not obeyed the voice of God nor any thing c. Jer. 41. 1 2 3 4 5 6 19 20 21. And they come unto thee as the people cometh and they sit before thee as my people and they hear thy words but they will not do them for with their mouth they shew much love but their heart goeth after their covetousness c. thou art unto them as a very lovely song c. for they hear thy words but they do them not Ezek. 33. 31 32. O Ephraim what shall I do unto thee O Judah what shall I do unto thee for your goodness is as a morning cloud and as an early dew it goeth away Hosea 6. 4. The heads judg for reward and the priests thereof teach for hire c. yes will they lean upon the Lord and say Is not the Lord among us c Mic. 3. 11. Herod sent to seek Christ under pretence of worshipping him but he designed to kill him Matth. 2. 3 5 8 16. When thou dost thine alms do not sound a trumpet before thee as the hypocrites do in the Synagogues and in the streets that they may have glory of men c. And when thou prayest thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are for they love to pray standing in the Synagogues and in the corners of the streets that they may be seen of men c. Moreover when ye fast be not as the hypocrites of a sad countenance for they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast Matth. 6. 2 5 16. Why beholdest thou the mote which is in thy brothers eye but considereth not the beam that is in thine own eye or how wilt thou say to thy brother Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye and behold a beam in thine own eye thou hypocrite first cast out the beam out of thine own eye c. Not every one who saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven c. Many will say unto me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy name c then I will profess I never knew you Matth. 7. 3 4 5 21 22 23. Luke 13 26 27. John came neither eating nor drinking and they say he hath a devil the Son of man came eating and drinking and they say behold a man gluttonous and a wine-bibber and a friend of Publicans and sinners Matth. 11. 18 19. When the Pharisees saw the disciples plucking corn on the Sabbath-day they said Behold thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath-day Jesus said Have ye not read c. how that on the Sabbath-days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are blameless c They asked him saying Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day that they mighe accuse him c. then he cured the man c. Then the Pharisees went out and held a council against him that they might destroy him c. They said This fellow doth not cast out devils but by Beelzebub the prince of Devils Matth. 12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 10 11 12 13 14 24. They said of Christ Is not this the Carpenters son c whence then hath this man all these things and they were offended in him Matth. 13. 54 55 56 57. Then there came to Jesus Scribes and Pharisecs c. saying Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the Elders for they wash not their hands when they eat bread But he answered and said unto them Why do you also transgress the commandment by your traditions for God commanded saying Honour thy father c. but ye say c. thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition ye hypocrites well did Isaias prophesie of you saying This people draw nigh to me with their mouth c. but their heart is far from me Matth. 15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. The young rich man had observed much of the law yet when Christ had said unto him If thou wilt be perfect go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor he went away sorrowful for he had great possessions Matth. 19. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22. Those who agreed for wages murmur because those who did not agree nor do so much work as they had alike wages freely given them Matth. 20. 1 2 to the 15. When the chief Priests and Scribes saw the wonderful things that he did and the children crying in the temple and saying Hosanna to the son of David they were sore displeased c. And when he was come into the temple the chief Priests and the Elders c. came unto him as he was teaching and said By what authority dost thou these things and who gave thee this authority When Christ had put forth the parable of the vinyard and the chief Priests had heard this parable they perceived that he spake of them but when they sought to lay hands on him c. Matth. 21. 15 23 33 34 35 36 37 45 46. Then went the Pharisees and took counsel how they might intangle him in his talk c. asked him Is it lawful to give tribute to Cesar or not c Jesus said Why tempt ye me ye hypocrites c. Matth. 22. 15 16 17 18. The Scribes and Pharisees c. they say and do not for they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be born and lay them on mens